Match Report

Tranmere 1 Leeds 4

Tranmere were unable to make it two victories in four days as Leeds United ran out 4-1 winners at Prenton Park.

The visitors took an early lead through Robert Snodgrass which was quickly doubled from the penalty spot by Jermain Beckford. John Welsh pulled one back for Rovers but Luciano Becchio's header restored Leeds' advantage before Beckford added another in the second half.

The scoreline was a little harsh on Rovers who battled well throughout but were undone by some clinical finishing from Leeds' strikeforce and denied a strong penalty claim at a crucial stage of the match.

Leeds almost forced an opener on two minutes but Marlon Broomes was well placed to head behind after Luciano Becchio had sent a dangerous flick on through the six yard box.

Rovers' first opening came on seven minutes. Luke Daniels reacted quickly to catching Robert Snodgrass' free kick and launched the ball into the Leeds half. Craig Curran teased the defender before cutting inside and forcing Casper Ankergren to parry clear with the bounce falling just beyond the reach of the approaching Marvin Sordell.

However, two minutes later the visitors took the lead. Another free kick from Snodgrass went through a crowd of players and in at the far post, perhaps taking a touch on the way in off a yellow shirt.

The visitors were given a chance to double their advantage on 16 minutes. Jermaine Beckford held the ball up on the left, played it to McSheffrey inside the area and the striker was brought down by McLaren leaving the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Luke Daniels guessed the right way but the pace of Beckford's spot kick gave him no chance as Leeds went 2-0 up.

A foul on Gareth Edds on the edge of the area gave Tranmere a chance to get back into the game on 18 minutes. John Welsh was given the free kick duties, his effort rebounded off the wall and fell to Luke O'Neill whose low shot had to be turned behind by Ankergren. From the corner that followed Thomas-Moore miss hit his shot but the ball fell to Welsh who beat Ankergren at his near post with a low shot.

With the deficit halved Rovers pushed on, with Thomas-Moore spotting Ankergren off his line only to put his speculative 35 yard shot wide of the target.

Ian Goodison intercepted a stray pass from Snodgrass on 25 minutes but his foray up the left wing was cut short by Andrew Hughes while Sordell sliced a shot wide three minutes later.

The visitors soaked up the pressure and hit Rovers on the counter attack. A pass from Snodgrass went just beyond the reach of Goodison to Beckford on the right side of the area and he crossed for Becchio who sent a diving header into the bottom right corner.

The deficit remained at two until the half time whistle, with neither side threatening in the closing stages of the half.

The start of the second half saw Savage replace Sordell as the spearhead of the three man attack and the striker made a quick impact, using his size and strength to force a corner on Leeds' left hand side in front of the Kop. From McLaren's cross the ball eventually fell to Broomes whose looping effort landed on the roof of the net.

Five minutes into the half Rovers appeared to be denied what looked a blatant penalty as Aidan White tried to clear his area but hit the ball into his own arm.

Rovers continued to pressure, forcing Leeds deep into their own half but Edds hit his shot wide of the target after good work from O'Neill.

Curran volleyed straight at Ankergren on 55 minutes while Broomes had to clear from his own six yard box eight minutes later at the other end.

On 65 minutes Leeds made it 4-1. A long pass over the top beat Broomes and Beckford lobbed the ball over Daniels into the net from just inside the area.

Shaleum Logan replaced O'Neill with just under 20 minutes remaining while Daniels pulled off a fine save to deny Beckford a hat-trick soon after following a clever back heel from Becchio.

Rovers' final change saw Alan Mahon replace Gareth Edds in midfield and he almost released Logan with a through ball into the Leeds area that had to be cleared by Patrick Kisnorbo.

The midfielder was close to a consolation on 87 minutes when his long range effort had to be tipped away from the top corner by Ankergren.